A Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page
1666 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting depicts a young woman in a gold-colored gown feeding an African grey parrot from her hand, while a young page stands in the background carrying a silver tray. The work is signed with the artist's initials M.D. on the stone ledge in the foreground.
Did you know?
Caspar Netscher was a Dutch Golden Age painter who became highly sought after for his refined genre scenes and portraits, often depicting the wealthy in elegant, domestic interiors. The parrot in this painting served as a symbol of luxury and exoticism in 17th-century Dutch society, reflecting the extensive trade networks of the Dutch East India Company. The presence of the page boy adds a layer of narrative complexity, hinting at the social status and the leisure activities of the elite at the time.
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A Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page
Caspar Netscher, 1666
